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Where to begin? This Tuesday, as Memphis celebrated 9/01 day, Bluff City Soul Collective performed at Lafayette’s Music Room in Overton Square. The super-group blended all of their Memphis roots together to form a combination of high-energy funk rhythms with a touch of old-school soul that created an exciting atmosphere. With a full stage, nine members altogether, the band brought a full sound to the table.

Right away the crowd was feeling it, swaying side to side to each note, moving with the rhythms and bobbing their heads. Since Bluff City Soul Collective is composed of so many different artists in different groups, the crowd was able to get more than just one dose of excellence. BCSC played songs that the band members had written for their own respective groups, giving the crowd a feel for just how talented each musician is in the band. Ben Callicott, the guitarist, played an original, as did Jason Rodgers, one of the pianists. The band played for about and hour and took a fifteen-minute break to cool down before returning.

When they did finally return, the singers stayed behind, prompting an instrumental jam, mimicking the technicality of a Rush anthem.. After precision fueled drum, bass, and bongo solos, the singers took the stage again.

The highlight of the night had to be when Bluff City showed their creativity and performed their version of “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce and fused it with Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” which they truly made their own and in turn, got some of the older crowd moving around. Bluff City played some more covers including Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” and what was described as a too crunk for Lafayette’s version of the hit single “Uptown Funk.”

Altogether, Bluff City brought more than Lafayette’s was ready for and rocked the house all night; helping us Memphians celebrate 9/01 day right! 901 Music was glad to be there and can’t thank Bluff City Soul Collective enough for a night of fun times and good vibes.